I am thankful for John's family.  His mother and father were a great support in the early days.  John's mom came to our home after the children were born and always enjoyed being with us and loving on her grandchildren.  I understand more now as a grandmother what those children meant to her and how it was important that they were loved and taken care of.  John's dad always worked at least two jobs for as long as I can remember.  With the money he made he helped John and I with diapers and other baby necessities.  He paid for a truck so we could relocate to Texas when John's job did not work out in Virginia.  I always appreciated Laura's thoughtfulness.  She was always faithful in writing letters, sending cards unlike her sister in law.  I have never been a writer of letters.  I still have the knives she gave John and I for a wedding present and believe it or not I still use them.  I appreciate Ricky for his persistence in visiting and keeping in touch through phone calls and personal visits.  He has been very faithful in doing this.  I was so glad that John and Ricky were able to go to Rhode Island together to see Michael graduate from OCS.  I have been very blessed with a great family!

I am thankful for our new daughter in law Stephanie!  I appreciate how Mark is treated with respect, spoken to kindly, and not demeaned publicly.  She and Mark are working together to pay off debt so when he comes home it will be easier.  She is looking for a home and preparing for an all family homecoming.  I know it will take a lot of work but I appreciate her willingness to work hard and make their house into a home for the entire family.  It has been nice to be able to see the changes in Donovan via the internet as she has been faithful in posting new and updated pictures.  Thank you!

I am thankful for my daughter in law Becky!  She has been very supportive of Michael while he pursued his degree, during the times he has been deployed, and while he was away yet again going through OCS.  I know it put his mind at ease knowing he had your support.  I appreciate seeing how you worked together to get out of debt and you conferred with one another regarding large expenditures.  You worked out your own checks and balances and were honest with one another.  I love your laughter and enjoyment of life.  I so appreciate the love and care you give to Andrew.  It is nice not to have to worry about how he is being taken care of.  I know he has security and love in his life and that means so much to me.  I love the relationship you have with your parents-your love and respect for them.  They are fortunate to have you for a daughter.  I love you and am glad you are in our family.

I am thankful for each of my grandchildren they are awesome!  Jacob is our oldest by three minutes and is ten.  He has a take care of my siblings outlook, he loves to read, play computer games or board games.  He memorizes scripture for his club, and tries to read his bible. Jacob has a tender heart and is a caretaker.  He has a tender heart toward the things of God.  Josiah is his twin brother.  I cannot look at him without seeing his daddy as a boy.  He has his own way of doing things.  He loves science, math and legos.  He doesn't mind reading if it is something he is interested in.  I am amazed at the things he can build or replicate with legos.  God has given him a mind that is amazing.  Josiah sometimes appears to be indifferent to things but is also very tenderhearted.  Alaina is 8 and is so very precious to me.  She was my little sidekick for awhile.  She is very conscientious, and I fear a perfectionist.  She loves reading, dolls, Polly Pockets, and Pet Shop pets.  She enjoys science in school.  She is very excited about being in the school's production of The Wizard of Oz.  She is a girly girl who loves bows, shiny shoes, sparkly shoes, earrings, and play makeup.  She has recently become a Brownie and is enjoying her Brownie troop.  Anya is 5 and is our little red-head.  You just never know what is going to come out of her mouth.  She enjoys being read to and is loving kindergarten.  Well, at least the social aspect of it.  She has many friends at school so I think I know who the social butterfly of the family will be.  Everybody loves her-the teachers, the students alike.  Anya has become a Daisy in Girl Scouts and is loving it.  She enjoys Sunday school and sitting with her teacher, Ms. Elaine.  I am thankful for the time I have had Mark's children in our home.  How many grandparents are lucky enough to be able to have an impact on the lives of their grandchildren.  I pray for God's guidance, wisdom and patience as I help Mark raise them during the time he is away.  Thank you, Mark for allowing me this opportunity! 

I am so thankful for my little Andrew.  It is amazing to me how much he is like his daddy in looks and temperament.  He is built like a Sherman Tank (much like Michael as a boy) and he has a very sweet spirit.  I love how he enjoys playing with his father.  He enjoys reading and dinosaurs and movie monologues.  Thank you Becky!  LOL!!  He likes being outside and it was fun to see him enjoy the animals at the Pumpkin Farm while Michael and Becky were visiting.  He loved feeding them.  He loves his dog Pepper.  He enjoys running, chasing and playing with him.  I love you Andrew! 

I am thankful for Matthew and Edna's children, Adan and Abi!  I am enjoying my time with Adan.  Adan loves to be read to and enjoys going to the library.  He is shy.  It takes awhile for him to warm up but once he is there-look out world!!!  He enjoys singing and doing hand motions. Adan loves animals, playing outside and he loves his cousin Andrew!  He loves his sister Abi.  Adan has the same face shape as his father.  He loves to make funny faces and he has quite the personality.  He already knows many of his numbers and the letters of the alphabet.  Thank you big sister, Abi!  Abi-my first born granddaughter!  You have a special place in my heart.  Remember how you would come to grandma and grandpa's house and take out everyone of the movies we had and stack them.  You also learned how to open your grandfather's briefcase so you could get gum when you came over.  You are such a great sister.  You play with your brother as well as help look after him.  Abi loves to read and loves to make things.  She makes little notebooks and bracelets and sells them at school.  She loves math and is very good at it.  She is learning many Bible verses and is so proud.  Grandma is proud of you too!!  She invited her cousins to Bible school and they really enjoyed going with you.  She is a help to her mother and is very responsible.  I love you Abi!  You are a special young lady!

I am thankful for my grandson Kekoa and for the opportunity I had to have him in my home for about five months.  Kekoa you are in my heart always.  I saw a picture of you the other day on your mom's facebook page and I thought, you look exactly like your father.  I love your sweet spirit.  You love to be held and loved on.  I sure enjoyed rocking you and holding you.  I can see how much you have grown.  Kekoa enjoyed eating oatmeal for breakfast.  He would come out to the kitchen and I would make him some oatmeal.  Sometimes he would get upset because it didn't cool down quickly enough.  He loves to be outside.  He enjoys dogs.  I love his red hair, brown eyes, and sweet smile.  He is loved by his sisters and brothers here in Texas.  They miss him and get excited when I show them a picture on facebook.  I pray for you!  Kekoa loves cars.  He and Anya would sometimes fight over them.  Anya would take them away from him and he would just sit there with a hurt look on his face but then he got tired of that stuff and started taking them away from her.  You are a special little boy Kekoa!  You have an entire family and extended family who love you here on the mainland. 

I am thankful for my new little grandson Donovan.  I haven't met him yet.  I have just seen pictures of him and he is beautiful.  Donovan is already loved by his sisters and brothers here.  They talk about how "adorable" he is.  I know they can't wait to see and meet their new brother.  We have been praying for him will continue to do so.  Donovan has lots of hair like Mark had when he was a baby.  I also noticed his hair stands up on end just like Marks did.  I love you Donovan already and can hardly wait to meet you!

One day when I arrive in heaven I will get to meet my grandson Hunter and my other grandchild who we lost a couple of weeks ago.  I will see you one day.  Til then, I love you!

Thank you Lord, for these precious children!!!!

I am thankful for my daughter in law, Edna!  She is a very thoughtful person.  For my birthday one year she came over while I was at work and washed my dishes, made dinner and set the table very nicely.  She had flowers on the table for me.  She had no idea of the morale booster she was at that time.  Edna pushed me around the Galleria when I was in a wheel chair which was no small feat for her since she is so tiny.  She watched over me and made sure I was comfortable.  She comes for dinner and does the dishes for me.  I am so thankful for the love and care she bestows on her children.  She makes sure Adan has a meal for lunch before she goes to work each day.  She has stuck with Matthew through thick and thin while he was in Iraq, deployed to the border, and during the times he was in school and had homework and tests to study for.  You are really good with money and know how to make a dollar stretch when money is tight.  You work very hard to make a loving home for your family and I appreciate that.  Although sometimes there is a language barrier, one thing I want you to know if how much this family thinks of you and loves you!  I love you very much Edna.  Your mother raised a very caring, hard working, young woman who loves her family!  I am sure your mother is very proud of her daughter.  As his mother, I cannot tell you how much it means to me to see you supportive of Matthew even when I know it has not been easy.  Thank you, for what you have come to mean to our family!!

I'd like to thank God for my daughter, MaryEllen, today!  When she made her appearance in the world her father was so excited he cried.  I couldn't believe I had a beautiful little girl.  Mary brought much joy into our home, especially for her brothers.  When she talked too much, they threatened to unscrew her bellybutton so her arms and legs would fall off.  Believing them she would come screaming her brothers were going to make her fall apart.  She was used as a barbell for lifting weights, and would be tricked into going to bed by running a race to see who would get to the bed first.  She of course, would win, and we would give her a kiss and say goodnight.  Her brothers would shake their heads and think how easily she would fall for that trick time and again.  Hey, it works, don't knock it!!!  LOL!!  She missed her brothers very much when they moved away and was at odds with their wives when they married because she saw the wives as thieves.  They stole her brothers.  Of course by now she has a good relationship with her sisters-in law and loves them.  I know God has a plan for your life Mary.  Remember to put him first in your life.  Get your education and enjoy this time in your life-your singleness.  Embrace it!!!  I love you and am proud of the young woman you are becoming.  I love you!!!

november7

I am grateful for my son Mark.  Wow, Mark!  Mark was my last born (or so I thought).  I held him and loved on him so much.  I was so glad to have a little guy and to have him stay little for awhile.  He loved sports.  His dream was to be the governor of Wisconsin and to own the Dallas Cowboys one day.   He purchased his father a years subscription of Sports Illustrated along with the swimsuit edition for his father for Christmas one year.  One might think, Wow, that was really nice of him.  LOL!!  He paid for it with his father's credit card.  Mark continually tried to enter a football game the men of our church were playing.  He finally got in there and was dogpiled and for his effort got a broken leg.  However, before the cast was fully dried I found him at the top of the tree in the front yard.  Throughout his life, the trait I have most admired in Mark is his tenacity or indomitable spirit.  He is not a quiter and that character trait has helped him in trying times.  I don't think I could have endured some of the things he has.  One of the things I am proud of him for is his love for his children.  I am glad that he found a church in Georgia that he and Stephanie as well as the children enjoyed going to.  God loves you and has a plan for your life Mark!!

I am thankful for my son Michael.  I didn't know if I could love another baby as much as I loved Matthew and then along came Michael.  From the moment he was born he stole my heart and I knew I could love him as much as I loved his brother.  Michael charmed me with his tiny little short body and bulldog wrinkles across his forehead.  I thought he was beautiful.  Michael was always my sensitive, peacemaking child.   I remember him placing his arms around me when he thought I needed comfort, his "peons" he wrote for me, (I still have them), and his many drawings.   I am so proud of Michael, he too, had many sleepless nights, working his way through school while taking care of his family.  He also managed to get his degree and then was accepted into OCS and became a naval officer.  Michael just returned home from a deployment and will get to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas at home with his family.  I am grateful that he and Becky have a good church home and support of christian friends in San Diego when their family is unable to be there for them.  I love you Michael and I know that God will use your life to help others. 

I am thankful for my eldest son Matthew.  From the moment he was born I was madly in love with the little guy!  I have treasured the memories of the dead worms he would bring to me in his little pockets when he was three.  He was thrilled to bring me his treasure.  I said yuck, and did not realize that he was sharing what was valuable to him.  I remember the soccer games, the cooking contests, the sheep, and the dirty boots.  After spending all afternoon cleaning stalls he would try to enter the house without removing his boots and say, "Mom, my boots aren't dirty!"  He loves his wife Edna and tries to be a good provider for his family.  He has worked his tail off trying to go to school full time, work full time and still parent his children.  Somehow he found the fortitude to take his kids to the park and play with them.  Through much hard work and sacrifice on his and Edna's part he earned his degree.  He has been to Iraq three times.  He has also begun to go back to church and work on his relationship with God.  He has been attending classes on parenting his daughter.  Matt takes Abi and Adan to Awana's.  He has been going to church even when it isn't easy and I know God is working in his life as well as that of his family's.  I am grateful to God for his love toward Matthew and each of us who "call upon his name."  I am waiting for the time when "my boy" will sing again and I know he will!  I am so proud of you Matthew and I love you very much!!!

November has kind of snuck up on me.  I cannot believe it is actually the 2nd day of November.  This is the time of year I seem to do quite a bit of reflecting.  I really love November and what it means to this country and to me personally.  It is a time to be together with family, sharing laughter, love, and many memories.  I want to thank Mrs. Barbara Barkdoll and Polly Beers for the many times they came to visit my family and invite us to church.  I am thankful that someone took an interest in me, a bus kid, a kid that didn't have much, and invest time in me.  They taught me to sing, spending countless hours of their own time teaching me to sing specials.  One day, my heart was touched, and I saw myself for the sinner I was and received Jesus Christ as my personal savior.  I am so grateful for how he saved me and has worked with me through the years to bring about changes in me.  My prayer is that I will reflect Christ in my life. 

I am thankful for my family.  I am blessed to have a husband who works hard to provide for his family and to help others around him.  He gives of himself freely asking nothing in return.  He challenges his grandchildren to read their Bibles and to pray by example and by an encouraging word.  I am thankful for the parents God gave to me.  My father instilled in his children a good work ethic and loyalty while my mother taught us to be mindful of our words and actions and how they affect those around us.  Where would I be if not for their influence in my life.  Thank you mom and dad!  Thank you, to my husband, John!  I love you!